Hurricane Relief:
Loving Our Neighbors

by David Nakhla

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Luke 10:25-37b (ESV)

How often do we have occasion to show love to our neighbor – really serve them? Yes, we may provide the cup of sugar needed to complete a recipe or lend them our mower when theirs won’t start, but how often do we have opportunity to really come alongside our neighbor in the fashion the Lord described in the story of the Good Samaritan, the parable our Lord used to illustrate what it is to love your neighbor as yourself?

A beautiful aspect of disaster response is that it provides that “Jericho road” opportunity, when we come upon a neighbor in a significant state of need, and they welcome us in to serve them, even with what little we may have to offer.

The
updates below highlight how neighbors are being served by hurricane relief efforts on various fields. May I take this opportunity to thank you for your neighborly participation - financially, prayerfully, and physically. May these actions be a reflection of our Savior’s ultimate act of neighborly love that He poured out on us!

"The biggest problem is the significant economic setbacks that individuals have experienced due to the devastation of the island’s infrastructure, including destroyed roads, loss of jobs, lack of electricity, water, and internet, etc. They are also experiencing the physical, mental, and emotional drain of living without the everyday western conveniences they always took for granted, as we do, while still trying to maintain western standards of living.​

"We would like to see individuals and teams visit Puerto Rico to bring encouragement and to assist in outreach opportunities. There are
many occasions to point to the true hope found in Jesus Christ as many are wracked with despair over their circumstances."

NAPLES, FL
Hurricane Irma Relief:
"For the Benefit of Our Neighbors"

Eric Hausler, Pastor, Christ the King OPC, Naples, Florida

"Because of the work that we were able to do on behalf of our neighbors, the reputation of our works of service and our church have risen significantly. We are praying for many opportunities to invite neighbors to worship the Lord and visit us at Christ the King OPC..."

KEY WEST
Hurricane Irma Relief:
"Still There and Praising God!"

Joel King, Regional Disaster Response Coordinator, Key West, Florida

"The church sign is destroyed but a temporary banner hangs instead, telling the neighborhood that the church is still there and praising God! The Lord has already seen fit to use this storm for Keys OPC Pastor Bill Welzien and others to witness to neighbors and friends further, and our hope continues to be that the Lord would see fit to use this time to call others unto Him..."

HOUSTON
Hurricane Harvey Relief:
"God Continues to Open Doors"

Steve Larson, Regional Disaster Response Coordinator, Houston, Texas

"In addition to helping families in our churches recover from Hurricane Harvey flooding, we have been introduced to several families that God has providentially brought to our attention in different ways. We were able to enter the home of one neighbor to help with drying out her home, which allowed us to pray with her and share our burden for her and the neighborhood. These kinds of conversations happen regularly and God continues to open doors for ministry and outreach through our hurricane recovery and relief efforts."

California Fires Update

Update from the Presbytery of Northern California and Nevada

"The presbytery diaconal committee has sent our church’s diaconal fund some money to be disbursed for fire relief here at our deacon’s discretion. So far, we’ve been focusing on helping the PCA in Santa Rosa and the reformed Baptist churches in our area that have had members affected by the fire. Our deacons have also received a fire relief contribution from two other OP churches, one in our presbytery.​" -- Pastor Reid Hankins, Trinity OPC, Novato, CA

"Our church took an offering that is going to the PCA church as well." -- Pastor Mike Dengerink, Delta
Oaks, Pittsburg, CA

Volunteers:

Many thanks to those who have served
with OPC Disaster Response
in Key West, Naples, and Houston!

Key West:

Patricia Baldeo

Peter Bartuska

Mark Brintnall

Matt Gertler

Taylor Imperi

Joel King

Chad Mullinix

Zion Needham

Matt Neumann

Elisabeth Neumann

Eric Pastorek

Jerry Poulette

Rhonda Riffe

Michelle Strassel

Bonnie Sturgis

Tevis Thompson

“Rescue” Raun Treible

Naples:

Andy Baker

Alex Brummel

Pete Faber

Demadrea Fuller

Donna Hausler

Eric Hausler

Tim Hausler

Ryan Heaton

Myron Palmer

Jeff Rosendall

Michael Smith

And, the "Haitian Hurricane Heroes" (all brothers from one family!):

Emildo Antoine

Jephte Antoine

Nehemy Antoine

Pierre-Paul Antoine

Standley Antoine

Valdano Antoine

Houston:

Dale Bickering

Chris Bonner

Jason Bonner

Brian Brown

John Buma

Bob Canode

Lauren Canty

Jim Cassidy

Jason Chase

Gloria Davis

Jeff Davis

Marcus Ditsworth

Will Duff

Steve Etheridge

Joe Fraught

Kurt Franje

Dan Harp

Anneliese Harriman

David Hitchner

James Hobbs

Blake Hughes

Colin Johnsen

Kyler Johnsen

Barry Johnson

Jim Kozlowski

Rebekah Kozlowski

Forrest La Belle

Steve Larson

Kenley Leslie

Sean McGinty

Brian Murphy

Alexander Patois

Martin Pelayo

Brad Salie

Jason Schuringa

Mark Sumpter

Peggy Sumpter

Cheryl Van Beek

Chris Vander Zee

Joe Vander Zee

Thank you, too, to those of you who have
scheduled a time to volunteer!

Houston Volunteer Openings

Volunteers at Work in Houston

Poster:
Call for Volunteers

Click on the image below to print a Disaster Response poster you can use as a
bulletin insert or to post on your church bulletin board. Thank you!

Radio Broadcast!

David Nakhla, OPC Disaster Response Coordinator, was recently interviewed on the radio about his role as the OPC’s Disaster Response Coordinator, and the OPC's relief work in response to the 2017 hurricanes.